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How to Find A Job After CNA Certification

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a high demand in the number of certified nursing assistants in the coming years, which is an expected 17% growth by 2024. If you are looking for a job as a CNA graduate, even with this projected demand and having passed the competency exam, you are likely to encounter many closed doors and a couple of empty promises, as is the case when starting off in most jobs. The question of how to find a job after CNA certification requires that you do more than just graduate from school, you will also need to be willing to work for a lower pay and wait patiently for the opportunity to grow.

How to Find A Job After CNA Certification

  1. Get lots of experience

As a student, you should find time to volunteer working for the elderly. Providing your services in this way can help earn you valuable experience, which is what most employers are looking for. You will also learn what it’ll take to succeed as a CNA in this way. Volunteering is also a great way of showing initiative and that you will be productive when on the actual job. You should be able to find volunteer opportunities in nursing homes and other facilities that will give you real world experience beyond the classroom.

  1. Write a great resume

If you want to learn how to find a job after CNA certification, spend a good amount of time on your resume. When you are applying for a job, your resume will be your first impression to your potential employer so make sure to work on it thoroughly. Instead of having your resume list out your duties, you should have a list of your accomplishments. Showcase to your prospective employer the things you’ve done related to healthcare, your projects, and the goals you’ve managed to complete. Also, you can take it further by showing how your accomplishments demonstrate that you are capable of making the healthcare facility better and how you can help those in need of healthcare services.

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Although your resume should have all these things, make sure that you don’t make it extremely long either. Keep it brief and keep it interesting. Don’t bore people reading your resume with unnecessary details or else you risk having your resume ignored. AND ALSO, proofread your resume of any poor grammar and spelling, you want to look professional, right?

  1. Choose the right references

Take a look at the people who you want to be your references, are they still willing to vouch for you? Do they really know you well enough to give correct information about you? Do they know what your current goals are? Always get the permission of your reference before writing them down. The best references are those who are involved in the industry of healthcare such as teachers or people from the health centers you volunteered at, provided you have volunteered. Include the name, job title, and the email address or telephone number of your reference.

  1. Job hunting

In order to find a great job, this will require you to make use of the available contacts you have, set aside a lot of time, and maybe even visit a career professional where you received CNA training. When looking for a job, reach out to family members, friends, and neighbors about places they know that need people with your qualifications. Many times, if you have a good network of people in the healthcare industry, you’ll be able to find a great job in a healthcare facility this way. Also, you can use the person who referred you as a reference.

However, if that doesn’t work, you can always use the power of the internet to find new job opportunities. After all, what are you using right now? You can even use our site’s own job page to look for work in your area. Other ways of finding job listings requires little more than doing a simple Google search. Once you’ve found a job listing in your location and that’s looking for your qualifications, go ahead and send in your well-crafted resume. You’ll want to send your resume to as many jobs as you can in order to get the most responses back. Be patient as these things take time.

If you are called up for an interview, take the time to dress well, prepare everything you’ll need (copies of resume/cover letter, CNA certificate, letters of recommendation, etc.), and plan what you are going to say. You’ll want to study up on potential interview questions as well, as having an in-depth answer to questions will help immensely. If you need some interview tips, check out this article for some tips on how to impress your interviewer.

If all else fails, you always have the option of calling nursing homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities to ask directly if they have any CNA job openings. That’s all the tips we have on how to find a job after CNA certification, good luck out there!

how to find a job after cna certification - job hunting